Adjustment apparatus for precision alignment between aircraft components

Abstract

Adjustment apparatus for precision alignment between aircraft components are disclosed. An example adjustor assembly includes a base including a first track and an upper housing including a second track. A slider is movably coupled relative to the first track and the second track. An actuator moves the slider in a linear direction. Movement of the slider between a first position and a second position along the first track and the second track is to cause the upper housing to move between a first operating position and a second operating position relative to the base.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An adjustor assembly comprising:
 a base including a first track;   an upper housing including a second track;   a slider movably coupled relative to the first track and the second track; and   an actuator to move the slider in a linear direction, movement of the slider between a first position and a second position along the first track and the second track to cause the upper housing to move between a first operating position and a second operating position relative to the base.   
     
     
         2 . The adjustor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustor assembly further includes an upper plate coupled to the upper housing. 
     
     
         3 . The adjustor assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the adjustor assembly includes a stop to restrict movement of the upper housing between the first operating position and the second operating position. 
     
     
         4 . The adjustor assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the stop includes a shoulder bolt threadably coupled to the base, the shoulder bolt extending through a slot of the upper plate. 
     
     
         5 . The adjustor assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the slot has an opening that is larger than a diameter of a shank of the shoulder bolt passing through the slot of the upper plate. 
     
     
         6 . The adjustor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second track has a longitudinal axis that is at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the first track. 
     
     
         7 . The adjustor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustor assembly further includes an upper plate coupled to the upper housing and a base plate coupled to the base. 
     
     
         8 . The adjustor assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the upper plate is to extend at least partially across the base and the base plate is to extend at least partially across the upper housing. 
     
     
         9 . The adjustor assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the actuator includes a threaded screw coupled to the upper plate, the slider, and the base plate, wherein the slider is fixed to a shaft of the threaded screw via a plurality of nuts. 
     
     
         10 . The adjustor assembly of  claim 9 , wherein rotation of the threaded screw relative to the upper plate and the base plate causes the threaded screw to move linearly relative to the upper plate and the base plate and carry the slider between a first position and a second position. 
     
     
         11 . The adjustor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator includes a threaded screw and a nut follower threadably coupled to the threaded screw, wherein the slider is fixed to the nut follower. 
     
     
         12 . The adjustor assembly of  claim 11 , wherein rotation of the threaded screw causes the nut follower to move along a linear axis relative to a first side plate and a second side plate. 
     
     
         13 . An adjustor assembly including:
 a base;   an upper housing slidably coupled to the base;   a slider slidably coupled to the upper housing and the base, the slider to move in a linear direction between a first side plate and a second side plate; and   an actuator to move the slider between the first side plate and the second side plate along a drive axis of the actuator, the slider configured to cause the upper housing to move between a first operating position when the slider is in a first position adjacent the first side plate and a second operating position when the slider is in a second position adjacent the second side plate.   
     
     
         14 . The adjustor assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the upper housing engages the base when the slider is in the first position, and wherein the upper housing is spaced apart from the base to form a gap between the upper housing and the base when the slider is in the second position. 
     
     
         15 . The adjustor assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the gap is a vertical gap. 
     
     
         16 . The adjustor assembly of  claim 13 , further including a plurality of pins, wherein respective first ends of the pins are slip fit relative to corresponding first openings of the upper housing and respective second ends of the pins are press fit relative to corresponding second openings of the base, wherein respective ones of the first openings coaxially align with corresponding respective ones of the second openings. 
     
     
         17 . The adjustor assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the actuator is at least one of a threaded rod or an acme screw assembly. 
     
     
         18 . An adjustor assembly comprising:
 a base defining a first track;   a base plate coupled to a first side of the base;   an adjustable gib slidably coupled to the base, the adjustable gib defining a second track, the second track including a tapered profile;   a gib plate coupled to a second side of the adjustable gib opposite the first side;   a slider movably coupled to the first track and the second track between a first position and a second position, the slider including a tapered upper edge having a tapered profile that is complementary to a tapered profile of the second track; and   an actuator coupled to the slider, the actuator rotatable in a first rotational direction to move the slider in a first linear direction and a second rotational direction to move the slider in a second linear direction opposite the first linear direction, wherein movement of the slider between the first position and the second position via the actuator causes a change of a gap between the base and the adjustable gib.   
     
     
         19 . The adjustor assembly of  claim 18 , further including a plurality of pins to guide a position of the adjustable gib relative to the base, respective first ends of the pins being press fit within respective openings of the base and respective second ends of the pins being slip fit within respective openings of the adjustable gib. 
     
     
         20 . The adjustor assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the actuator includes threaded screw shaft and a nut follower, the nut follower attached to the slider and threadably coupled to the threaded screw shaft.